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Chapter Thirty-Three: Parting
Vuko POV
The cathedral is quiet as I feel everyone's eyes on me. My mouth is dry and suddenly I don't have the words. I'm thinking about the moon cycle and how much time has already passed since the promise I made so glibly to the dreamed man in the Barren--who I now know is Dylan, Esme's son.
I do a quick calculation and realise that we are already a week from my promise. That should be enough time surely?
I put my hand to my chest, where the pendant containing the stone hangs in the leather holder Silvia gave me for it. I marvel now at how she trusted me. She knew I was hiding it from the witch but she still trusted me enough after all this time to make the right choice.
Now I'm not so sure I have. Maybe if I had shown the witch the stone sooner I wouldn't be kneeling over Silvia's half-dead body?
"Actually," I say, "Maybe it's better if I show you."
Carefully, I take the necklace off. My fingers trace the inscriptio
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